Tamper-proof cover for coin boxes



sept. 14, 1965 Filed Dec. 17, 1963 A. LABE 3,206,111

TAMPER-PROOF COVER FOR COIN BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Louis A.Lobe ATTORNEYS SePt- 14, 1965 Y L. A. LABE 3,206,111

TAMPER-PROOF COVER FOR COIN BOXES Filed Deo. 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Louis A. Lube lg 8 BY ATTURNEYS United States Patent O3,206,111 TANIPER-PROOF COVER FOR COIN BOXES Louis A. Labe, 3076Magnolia St., Denver, Colo. Filed Dec. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 331,262 14Claims. (Cl. 232--15) This invention relates to coin receptacles andmore particularly to tamper-proof coin receptacles having a frangibleopening over a coin release to show the unauthorized opening thereof,particularly the opening of a coin collecting receptacle by personsauthorized to handle such receptacles.

The increased use of coin operated vending machines has greatlyincreased the hazards of theft of coins from the machines. Thieves whobreak into the machines to remove the coins, however, are not always amajor source of loss to the machine owners. Also, the economics of thevending machine business prevents the use of coin boxes built like safesto thereby prevent the actual break-in by thieves. In the early historyof coin operated vending machines, a serviceman was dispatched to rellthe depleted goods and to remove the coins from the coin collectionreceptacle which was generally an open box internally of the machine.Sophistication of the system saw the introduction of locked coincollection boxes which were intended to be physically removed from themachine and be replaced by a similar locked empty coin box. The lledboxes were then taken to a central location for emptying and relockingfor subsequent reuse.

The coin operated vending machines are spread throughout various storesand other establishments in and around populated areas. For efficiency,the servicemen of the machines are assigned routes and generally such aroute takes several hours or the most of a working day to cover. Such atime lapse allows a dishonest serviceman to remove coins from the boxesin many different ways, eg., making keys to t the locks, etc. As newlocks and keys are devised, however, new ways to clandestinely penetratea lock are immediately devised and the losses are only temporarilystopped. In instances it has been found that persons working in the coincollecting department of such a coin operated machine company theworking in conjunction with a serviceman so that as new locks aredevised, the keys are immediately made available for the serviceman sothat there is no break in the loss.

Another problem occurs where the owners of the establishment having themachines installed therein shares in the income produced by the machine.generally are insistent on an honest measure, and usually to insurethemselves of an honest share had to physically count the take of eachmachine prior to the coins being removed from the premises. This notonly creates a demand on the time of the owner to count the coins, butrequires a bookkeeping system to account for the coins that leave thepremises so that the actual receipts from the machine are known. This isnot only unsatisfactory due to the forced Waiting for the serviceman bythe owner, but the bookkeeping takes time and money to prepare. Where agreat many machines are involved in one particular establishment, theproblem is proportionately magnied. Logically the coin boxes are besthandled and the coins counted at those places equipped to handle them,such as the machine owners establishment since such an owner generallyservices many times the number of machines vfound in any oneestablishment. Applicants invention prevents clandestine entry of thecoin boxes and gives the establishments owner a better chance for a fullcount at the machine owners establishment.

The owners My invention broadly is to provide a frangible cover for thecoin boxes of coin operated machines so that While it is easy to breakthe cover and have access to the interior of the coin box, entry intothe coin box is immediately and always known. The invention provides acover which prevents the accidental removal of coins from the coin box,and prevents entrance into the coin box through the cover Withoutphysically showing such an entry has occurred. The device of theinvention involves the use of a plastic cover of a non-circularconfiguration which tightly fits over the opening of a coin box andwhich is held in place by a spring latch which is only removable by theturning of the cover holder; the turning of the cover holder, however,fractures the cover, making such turning immediately discernible.

Included among the objects and advantages of the invention is a coverfor a coin receptacle which cannot be removed without fracturing aportion of the cover, making the removal of it discernible.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive cover fora coin box which does not require a key for the removal but is onlyremoved by fracturing and thereby breaking a portion of the cover.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cover for thecoin removal opening of a coin receptacle which is easily broken forremoval of the coins therein, but is not removable Without such abreaking.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readilyascertained by referring to the following description and appendedillustrations, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention; i

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a portion of the device of FIG. 1 takenalong section lines 2 2;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional View of a modified form of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a still further modiiied form of theinvention with a metal closure covering the opening of a coin box;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cover device of FIG. 4 inassembled position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a reinforced cover according to theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one form of frangible coin box coveraccording to the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional View of the device of FIG. 7 taken alongsection line 8 8.

The coin receptacles of most coin operated vending machines are metal.These are, generally, provided with a coin receiving sl-ot Vand a largeropening for removal of coins. In the systems where the coin box isphysical- =ly .removed from the machine and .an empty box placed in themachine, the coin slot of the box automatically closes when the Ibox isremoved from the machine. This prevents inadvertent removal of the coinsas well as deliberate removal through the slot. Further, the boxesygene-rally have a locked cover closing the coin removal slot. The coinoperated machine itself, normally, has a locked covering back whichencloses the box completely internally of the device.

The present invention in general provides a plastic cover for the coinopening of such boxes which is arranged so that it cannot be removedwithout breaking the holding mechanism which immediately makes entry-intlo the coin box known.

-ln the device shown in FIG. 1 a box or receptacle 10 is provided with a.closab'le coin chute 1l1 which has a mechanism (not shown) for closinglthe chute as the devi-ce is withdrawn from the vending machine, and a.plastic frangible cover shown in `general by the numeral ,12. The coinbox is provided with la front 15, a side 16, and a top 17. The front ofthe box is provided with a coin release opening 18 having a recessed lip19 (FIG. 2) extending around the opening. yA tubular holder 20 issecured to the inside back ofthe box by any conventional means, as byspot welding, and extends c'anftilevered toward `the openin-g.

'Ihe frangible cover for the opening includes a planar member 2S havinga pin secured to and extending therethrough including square :outerport-ion 26 and an inner portion 27 on opposite sides secured centrallytherein. The inner portion 27 is a circular extension of and dependsfrom the square portion 26 for positioning interiorly :of the box totelescope into the tube 20. The round section 27 has a pair of opposednotches 28 in the tip, which fare notched only on opposed sides of theround projection. The cover includes a peripheral side wall 30 having areversed Lip 31 for mating into the groove 19 around the opening edge,to prevent prying underneaththe cover. The tubular member 20 is providedwith a spring catch 33 which snaps into one of the notches in the pinthrough the cover. The pair of notches are on opposite sides so that thecover can be placed over the opening in either direction, but beingoblong, obviously, cannot be placed in all four directions. rI'fhespring clip is secured by screws 34 -and 35 to the tube 20,

'Ihe planar member 25 is joined to the square outer portion 26 through aweakened area 37 which surrounds the pin and joins the planar member tothe square. The plastic of the cover should be brittle and readilyfrangi-ble so that Lon turning the pin the weakened area 37 therearoundwill break for access to the box.

For actual use, a cover wi-t-h the locking mechanism in place ispositioned over Ithe opening lof the coin box. The pin is pressedinwardly `so that its yinner end telescopes in the tube and the springsnaps into one of the notches in the round end of the holder. In thisposition the reverse lip of the cover seats into the groove 19 aroundthe opening and prevents pry up of the cover for entrance around theedge. The reverse lip in the groove also prevents movement of the `coverwhen the pin is turned, thus preventing removal of the cover with thepin intact. It is preferable that the shape of the cover be such that itwill only lit in one or two ways; the rectangular shape shown Will t in-two different ways. Once the cover is seated in the opening `and thelock mechanism is secured, the only way that the cover may be removed isto turn the square shank so that it breaks the frangible attachment tothe cover. This, also, turns the notches away from the spring so thatthe pin may be removed from ythe tube. Once the lock mechanism has beenbroken away from the ycover and the pin turned to be rer leased from thetube, the cover is then discarded, .and the coins may then be removedfrom the box. For reuse, a new unbroken cover is snapped into posi-tionon the box.

As explained above, the purpose of the cover is only to prevent theentrance into the box by persons who have authority to lhandle the boxesbut `do not have authority to enter the boxes. By using differentcolors, etc. in the plastic, the covers -for the boxes may :be coded asto date, etc., so that the probability of compromising the system isvirtually nil. The actual use of the cover system is inexpensive ;andthe cost is justied since the added expense =of the expendible cover ismore than made up by a single loss which could -occur without thesystem.

In the modification shown in FIG. 4, the box 40 is provided with frontside 41, sides 42, a bottom (not shown) and a top 43. The top includesside ilanges 44 and 45 which are arranged to t into an adapter or holderin the vending machine. The box includes a coin chute or slot 46 and anopening 47 for removal of the coins. A coverlock mechanism 48 isarranged at one side of the opening, and a cocking lever 49 for cockingthe mechanism which automatically closes the coin chute 46 on removal ofthe box from the machine, is provided internally of the box. The cockingmechanism for the coin slot is not a 4v v part of the invention and willnot be described in detail.

A metal cover 5G is provided for the opening 47 and it includes a'metalinsert 51 under a peripheral flange 52 which extends all the way aroundthe box. The edge of the opening of the box slips between the ange 52and the lip 51 to secure that side of the cover in the opening. Thecover is provided with a central `planar area 54 which is recessed fromthe flange 52 by a short wall 55 extending around the planar area. Thecircular opening 56 provides means for inserting the lock mechanism of afrangible plastic cover which is arranged to t in the recessed area ofthe cover. The opening 56 is arranged to register with the locking tube48.

The frangible cover portion includes a slightly bowed, thin planarmember 60 having a short side wall 61 extending therearound'and a lockmechanism which includes a square stud 62 extending through the plasticto a rounded portion 63 having a pair of opposed notches 64 and 65. Thearea 60a adjacent to stud 62 provides a weakened junction for breakingthe stud from the member 60a on turning the stud relative to the planarmember. A rounded end 66 is arranged for inserting the device into thelocking tube 48 easily. A safety pin type of catch 67 is mounted on thetube which is notched to accommodate the safety pin so that the sides ofthe pin are inside the opening of the tube in position to mate with thenotches 64 and 65.

This cover is used in the same manner as the above described coverexcept that the metal cover is initially placed over the opening byplacing the insert and ange around the side of the box opposite thelocking mechanism and then pushing the metal cover into position overthe opening 47. The plastic cover is then inserted into the recessedarea and the locking stud 62 is pushed into the tube 48 where the end 66passes between the legs of the safety pin 67 so that they drop into thenotches 64 and 65, securely locking the mechanism in the tube.

To open the box, a pair of pliers or other tool grasps the square stud,turning the same more or less to break the stud 62 from the plasticcover 60 and to provide a release of the pin from the safety pin holder.The plastic cover is discarded and the metal cover withdrawn from theopening. The cover and pin both are discarded. The coins may now beremoved from the box.

A modified cover is shown in FIG. 6 wherein a locking stud 70 isprovided with a square end 71 and a rounded end 72. The point 73 isrounded for penetration into the tubular member and is provided withopposed notches 74. 'Ihe cover includes a planar area 75 and side walls76 therearound. The cover is provided with a reverse lip 77 for fittinga groove around the opening. The area around the pin 70 is weakened at78 so that the pin may be easily broken from the cover for removal fromthe coin box.

To protect the break-away cover a second piece of plastic 79 is weldedto the round portion of the pin and prevents the coins from directlystriking the cover, nwhich might accidentally break the cover from thepin. The member 79 being securely attached to the pin 70 does not breakfrom the pin and is removed with the pin as it is withdrawn from thetube. This provides a reinforcement for the cover to prevent accidentalbreakage.

A further modified cover is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, which provides acover for the opening of a `coin box and the cover itself is reinforcedto prevent accidental breaking of the cover. In this case, the cover isprovided with a planar portion 25a attached to a pin 26a. The pinincludes a round portion 27a with notches 28a therein. Side walls 30aextend around the periphery of the planar member 25a and terminates in areverse lip 31a arranged for seating in the groove around the opening.For reinforcement, radially directed embossed grooves 39 extend fromadjacent the pin to each corner.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, the cover is providedwith a weakened area 37a around the square portion of the pin 26a.

In the device shown in FIG. 3 a box 80 is provided with a back 81, top82 and a front cover 83, and, of course, a bottom cover which is notshown. The front includes an opening 94 closable by a cover. A tube 85for securing the cover in place is provided internally of the box. Thetop of the inside of the box is provided with an arcuate insert 86 whichaids in the emptying of the coins from the box in inverted position. Acoin slot 87 is arranged to be covered with a slide 89 which is operatedby a rack and pinion arrangement 90, the pinion of which is turned by aknob 91. A cocking lever 92 is provided which permits cocking themechanism so the slide 89 opens the coin chute, but as the box isinserted into the machine, a lever trips the mechanism to automaticallyclose the coin slot as the box is withdrawn from the machine. The coinchute cannot be opened again until the cover is removed and the levercocked.

The cover arrangement of FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG. 4 andincludes a metal cover 54 having a flange 50. The ange 50 is arranged toseat in the recessed opening 94 of the coin box 89. utilized in the samemanner, and its locking pin end 66 is inserted into the tube 8S. Thesafety pin 67 secures the pin in position. When it is desired to openthe box the pin 62 is turned, breaking it from the frangible cover sothat the metal cover may be removed.

In the cross-sectional View of FIG. 5, the plastic planar area 60 isshown to be slightly bowed so as to press against the cover. The bowedcover maintains the plastic cover in contact with the metal cover andprevents any unauthorized entrance into the box.

It is, of course, recognized that the arrangement can be applied to anytype of box in which unauthorized entry is wished to be detected. Formost boxes it is virtually impossible to prevent breaking and entering.The plastic cover of this invention does not prevent entry but itprevents a clandestine entrance to the box by persons authorized tohandle the boxes. It is, therefore, not limited strictly to coin boxesfor vending machines,

but may be utilized for any other type of box or container, eg., safetydeposit boxes, etc.

While the invention has been illustrated by reference to a particulardevice, there is no intention to limit the spirit and scope of theinvention to the precise details so set forth except as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A receptacle comprising a hollow member having enclosing walls and atleast one opening, cover means for said opening including a thinfrangible member, a pin secured to said frangible member and extendingbeyond both sides thereof, one end of said pin arranged to extendinternally of said hollow member, means in said hollow member forgripping said inner end of said pin in at least one position holdingsaid frangible member in place, there being a weakened area at thejuncture of said pin and said cover means, and the outer end of said pinarranged for turning said pin in relation to said frangible member forrupturing the juncture between the pin and the frangible member forremoval of the frangible member from said receptacle.

2. A receptacle comprising a hollow member having enclosing walls and atleast one opening, cover means enclosing said opening, said cover meansbeing a thin frangible planar member, a pin secured through saidfrangible planar member and extending beyond both sides thereof, one endof said pin arranged to extend internally of said hollow member, meansin said hollow member for gripping said inner end of said pin in atleast one position holding said frangible member in place, there being aweakened area at the juncture of said pin and said cover means, and theouter end of said pin arranged for turning Vsaid pin in relation to saidfrangible mem- The plastic insert is ber` for rupturing the juncturebetween the pin and the frangible member for removal of the frangiblemember from said receptacle.

3. A lreceptacle comprising a hollow member having enclosing walls andat least one non-circular opening, a thin frangible member covering saidopening, a pin secured through said frangible member and extendingbeyond both sides thereof, one end of said pin arranged to extendinternally of said hollow member, means in said hollow member forgripping said inner end of said pin holding said frangible member inplace, there being a weakened area at the juncture of said pin and saidfrangible member, and the outer end of said pin arranged for turningsaid pin in relation to said frangible member for rupturing the juncturebetween the pin and the frangible member for removal of the frangiblemember from said receptacle.

4. A receptacle comprising a hollow member having enclosing walls and atleast one quadrangular opening, cover means for said opening including athin frangible quadrangular member, a pin secured to said quadrangularrnember and extending `beyond `both sides thereof, one end of said pinarranged to extend internally of said hollow member, means in saidhollow member for gripping said inner end of said pin holding saidquadrangular member in place, there being a weakened area at thejuncture of said pin and said quadrangular member, and the outer end ofsaid pin arranged for turning said pin in relation to said quadrangularmember for rupturing the juncture between the pinand vthe quadrangularmember for removal of the quadrangular member from said receptacle.

5. A receptacle according to claim 4 in which said end of said pinextending into said hollow member has at least one notch and said meansfor gripping includes a spring catch for registering in said notch.

6. A coin receiving receptacle comprising a hollow member havingenclosing walls and at least one coin dispensing opening and a coinreceiving opening, cover means for said Icoin dispensing openingincluding a frangible member, a pin secured through said frangiblemember and extending beyond both sides thereof, means internally, ofsaid hollow member for a gripping engagement 4with the inner end of saidpin in at least one position, the 1` inner end of said pin arranged forengagement with said gripping engagement means in said receptacle forholding said frangible member in place covering the opening, there beinga weakened area adjacent the juncture of said pin and said frangiblemember, and the outer end of said pin arranged for turning said pin inrelation to said frangible member for rupturing the connection betweensaid pin and said frangible member thereby releasing the grippingengagement of the inner end of the pin with said gripping engagementmeans.

7. A coin receiving receptacle comprising a hollow member havingenclosing walls and at least one noncircular coin dispensing opening anda coin receiving opening, cover means for said coin dispensing openingincluding a planar frangible member, a pin secured through saidfrangible member and extending beyond both sides thereof, meansinternally of said hollow member for a gripping engagement with theinner end of said pin in at least one position of rotation, the innerend of said pin being circular in cross section and arranged forengagement with said gripping engagement means in said receptacle forholding said frangible member in place covering the opening, there beinga weakened area adjacent the juncture of said pin and said frangiblemeans, and the outer end of said pin arranged for turning said pin inrelation to said cover for rupturing the connection between said pin andsaid frangible means and releasing the gripping engagement of the innerend of the pin with said gripping engagement means.

8. A coin receiving receptacle comprising a hollow member havingenclosing walls and at least one quadrangular coin dispensing openingand a coin receiving opening, frangible plastic cover means for saidcoin dispensing opening, a pin secured through said cover means andextending beyond both sides thereof, tubular means internally of saidhollow member for telescoping engagement with the inner end of said pin,lock means associated with said tubular means for locking said inner endof said pin in at least one position, there being a weakened areaadjacent the juncture of said pin and said cover means, and the otherend of said pin arranged for turning said pin in relation to said coverfor rupturing the junctureibetween said pin and said cover means andreleasing the locking engagement of the inner end of the pin.

9. A receptacle according to claim 8 wherein said lock means is a springfastener, and said inner end has at least one notch for engagement withsaid spring.

10. A receptacle according to claim 8 wherein said lock means is asafety pin type fastener associated with said tubular means and saidinner end has a pair of opposed notches for engagement with saidfastener.

11. A coin receptacle comprising a hollow member having a coin receivingopen-ing and a coin dispensing opening, cover means for said coindispensing opening including a metal cover arranged to close theopening, there lbeing a small opening in said cover, a planar frangiblemember arranged to seat against said cover, a pin secured through saidfrangible member and extending on both sides thereof, the inner end -ofsaid lpin arranged to pass through the opening in said cover andinteriorly of said hollow member, means in said hollow member forgripping engagement with said inner end of the pin for holding thefrangible member and cover in place, there being a weakened area at thejuncture of said pin and said frangible member, and the outer end ofsaidV pin arranged for turning said pin in relation to said frangiblemember for rupturing the juncture therebetween for removal of said covermeans from said receptaclevand the pin from said grip engaging means.

12. A coin receptacle comprisinga hollow member having a coin receivingopening and a quadrangular coin vdispensing opening, cover means forsaid coin dispensing opening including a metal cover arranged to closethe opening, there being a small opening in said cover, a planarfrangible member arranged to seat against said cover, a pin securedthrough said frangible member and extending on both sides thereof, theinner end of said pin being cylindrical and arranged to pass through theopening in said cover and interiorly of said hollow member, means insaid hollow member forgripping engagement with said inner end of the pinfor holding the cover in place in at least one position, there being aweakened area at the juncture of said pin and said frangible means, andthe outer end of said pin arranged for turning said pin in relation tosaid cover for rupturing the juncture between said pin and said covermeans for removal of said cover means from said receptacle and the pinfrom said grip engaging means.

13. Cover means for a coin receptacle having a coin dispensing openingcomprising a frangible planar member having a peripheral side wall, apin secured through said frangible member and extending on both sidesthereof, the inner end of said pin being cylindrical and arranged forengagement with a locking means internally of a receptacle for holdingsaid frangible member in place covering the opening, there being an areaweakened adjacent the juncture of said pin and said frangible planarmember, and the outer end of said pin being non-cylindrical for turningsaid pin in relation to said frangible planar member for rupturing thejuncture therebetween.

14. Cover means for a coin receptacle having a coin dispensing openingocmprising a quadrangular planar frangible member having a peripheralside wall arranged t0 cover said opening, a pin secured through saidfrangible member and extending on both sides thereof, the inner end ofsaid pin being cylindrical and having opposed notches adjacent its end,said pin being non-circular at its connection with said frangiblemember, there being a weakened area at the juncture of said pin and saidfrangible member, and the outer end of said pin being non-circular andarranged for turning said pin in relation to said frangible member forrupturing the juncture therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,662,487 3/28Briggs 70-422 1,964,528 6/34 Mills 232--15 2,371,114 3/45 Von Stoeser232-15 2,420,125 5/ 47 Crist 220-27 2,571,542 10/51 Collins 220-27 l2,856,122 10/58 Greenwald 232-15 3,028,992 4/ 62 Bucher et al 220-27FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

8. A COIN RECEIVING RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A HOLLOW MEMBER HAVINGENCLOSING WALLS AND AT THE LEAST ONE QUADRANDULAR COIN DISPENSINGOPENING AND A COIN RECEIVING OPENING, FRANGIBLE PLASTIC COVER MENS FORSAID COIN DISPENSING OPENING, A PIN SECURED THROUGH SAID COVER MEANS ANDEXTENDING BEYOND BOTH SIDES THEREOF, TUBULAR MEANS INTERNALLY OF SAIDHOLLOW MEMBER FOR TELESCOPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER END OF SAID PIN,LOCK MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TUBULAR MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID INNER ENDOF SAID PIN IN AT LEAST ONE POSITION, THERE BEING A WEAKENED AREAADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID PIN AND SAID COVER MEANS, AND THE OTHEREND OF SAID PIN ARRANGED FOR TURNING SAID PIN IN RELATION OF SAID COVERFOR RUPTURING THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN SAID PIN AND SAID COVER MEANS ANDRELEASING THE LOCKING ENGAGEMENT OF THE INNER END OF THE PIN.